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State health authorities have posted warnings at two beaches at Buckeye Lake, where E. coli
levels have exceeded safety standards.

Ohio Department of Health officials say Crystal and Fairfield beaches were added to the
contamination advisory list for most of June.

As of yesterday, the state’s BeachGuard website listed 32 advisories for high bacteria levels.
Most of the beaches are on Lake Erie.

Bacteria naturally occur in water, but high levels can make people sick, said Scott Fletcher,
deputy chief for Ohio’s state parks.

Swimmers should use caution, but they aren’t prohibited from getting in the water while
advisories are in effect. Children, older people and those with weak immune systems are most at
risk.

“We encourage people not to swim during this time,” Fletcher said. “If E. coli is high, we can
reasonably assume other bacteria levels are high as well.”

Fletcher said high temperatures and stagnant water can cause problems.

“Buckeye Lake is a shallow, people-made lake, so this time of year this is very common,” he
said. “You can draw a parallel between the lake and a Petri dish.”

There are 130 public beaches in Ohio.

Last year, the Natural Resources Defense Council ranked Ohio 29th of 30 states for beach water
quality in 2010, based on samples taken at Lake Erie beaches. The environmental-advocacy group will
release a similar report based on 2011 data today.

“The issues impacting the Great Lakes are very much at play everywhere, including central Ohio,”
said Josh Mogerman, a spokesman for the group.

“Ohio has a lot of agriculture, industry and infrastructure, all of which contribute to water
pollution.”

But Merv Bartholow, lake coordinator for nonprofit advocacy group Buckeye Lake for Tomorrow,
said conditions at Buckeye Lake are improving. This time last year, the lake was plagued by toxic
blue-green algae blooms.

“People have been swimming in this water for decades,” he said. “We’re monitoring the lake for
serious conditions, and everything is looking good so far this year. It’s nothing to get alarmed
about.”